Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-08-05

| touches on my "mothern in completing her
attire and adornment Igave careful attention
to tue details of these, for | knew that those
twins were very sharp fellows, and did not
| propose to give them any ground for irrever-
ence or even criticism in the appearance of
the lady who was to stand TO them in ] co
matrs. One Of Polly's nursery gowns, with
tic color of which the twins were perfectly
familiar, was skillfully distracted from her
wardrobe, and gracefully draped round the
"mother," whose arms and breast had first
been carefully padded,
The face was delicately touched up by my
artist friend (whom had finally been obliged
TO take into my confidence until it wore an
air of maternal affection and solicitude
almost surprising that of the original and
the hair (which was one of the most expen-
sive items of my purchased paraphernalia)
was arranged us nearly rs possible in the
regular "disarrangement" to which the babies
were accustomed
This | found difficult to effect without i'm
pairing the safety of the fastenings, and |
dreaded somewhat the chance of one of the
twins in an enterprising moment giving q
| grab at the eight ringlet just sweeping his
face" but it was a risk that had to be in
Cured
And now she was complete and my heart
beat high with triumph and expectation, and
| Visions came before me Of the time when,
with n whole team of "artifcal mothers
grooming peace and comfort through the
| house, Polly and could roam away i'll bliss
ful ldleness and renew the days of our youth
carefully prepared rag baby was laid in
the arms OF the eSpectant mother, the two
sets of works were wound up, the starting
springs touched, and the rocking and fond
ling and grooming commenced with such per
feet naturalness, grace and harmony that |
was carried away by my delight and caught
myself saying: "My dear, you are a grand
success and reflect credit on your maker"
put on the stops and the baby dropped
with an easy motion of the arms into the
mothers" lap, the grooming softened down
into the gentle murmur of the ''piano," then
ceased altogether, and the mother sat looking
at her sleeping child with an aspect of such
calm dignity and sweet motherliness that l
was irresistibly impelled to give her kiss
of husbandly approval.
"What would Polly sGyW thought, as |
wiped from my lips the Slight touch left on
them by the damp paint Removing the
rag baby, lifted with some effort the chair
containing my handworl down to the door
of my paror, which, since the advent of the
twins, had been appropriated by them as a
special private nursery, where my occasional
presence was permitted only on sufrerance
The moment seemed propitious for my eX-
pertinent.
could hear the twins yelling with vocif-
erous Indignation for their slave Polly, who
had evidently been called into the farther
nursery by some outbreak among their prede-
ccssors. opened the door, placed the rock
ing chair costly in front of the fire, smoothed
Il. Il, Il.
its occupant, and gently laid a twin in each
arm a touch on the springs and the arms
moved up, claSping the still clamorous in
fants to ler breast the head bent over, the
feet touched the floor, impellmg the chair
with uniform swing, and with an equally
uniform monotony the steady waves of the
grooming poured forth from her lips.
The twins hushed their angry complaining.
and looked up inquiringly at the being to
whom their destiny Tin the shape of their
father hal confiled them. 1t was q moment
of terrible suspense. If their keen perceptions
discovered the fraud. if they decided that in
addition to the creature comforts of warmth,
and motion, and noise, it was essential 10
their happiness to have also the "ie ne sai-
quot" of motherinesS that my substitute could
not bestow upon them; if lin the language of
the day their unsatisfied yearnings revealed
to them that their souls We're not fed and
their senSibiitieS not minstered to, my beau
tiful theories would tall baseless to the ground
and my labor and hopes would, indeed. have
been III vain.
But moi Firmly held in the warm embrace
of the untiring arms, evenly rocked in tn,
steady swing of the chair. and dinned int,
unconsciousneSS ly the unbroken stream OF
sound, they stjllcd their noisy complanings
accepted the situation, and relapsed into T.;
state of bliSsful contentment and repose. |,
was evident that babies had no souls that
need administering TO-, and my "artticla
mother was a success. ] threw myself into
an easy chair, with the consciousness that
, had done a great work for the world, for my
self, for Polly.
, Just then | heard her step approaching
The sudden cessation of tie wonted cries haC
, alarmed her keen ear, and she came flying in
-, looking, with the flush of haste and alarm
upon her face, especially pretty and charm
ing.
"Our new nurse my DEAR" l said, waving
my hand toward the chair.
"A friend who has come in to lend hand >
= ] proceeded rather incohercntly, seeing thai
! Polly stood abacli with doubt, bewildermen
and vague apprehension,
y "In short, my dear, my new artificial
: mother" l burst out in desperation, as she
q stood still and stared, willie the rocking wen
O on without ceasing, and the grooming started
n on the higher key.
q "Artifcal what!' cried Polly. ooh, Tom
what frightful experiments are you making
g with my blessed boys? Let me have them a
!, once" she cried, rushing at the figure
y But the babies were but clutched the tight
5 er the chair swung more swiftly, and tn,
@ Grooming" burst into a louder strain will
n what sounded like defiant ring
e "Give me my children" shrieked Polly
trying to check the ceaseless swing of TIN
h chair, but the mother" continued impertur
K bable, and answered her vehemence with .
4 bland, fixed smile.
/. "Tom, help me; the thing is q demon!
# screamed Polly in desperation, pulling fran
a tically at the mothers arms. But, even a
q she spoke, the swinging redoubled in velocit,
until tho two bobiaS Traw liocly in tba 20